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Donghyuck has a memory from when he was six years old and just moving into their new home. This memory pops up frequently, often in his dreams, of little Donghyuck walking up the path to the new place he’ll call home. It’s so vivid, it feels like he’s reliving the moment, all the details crystal clear. He could smell the freshly mowed lawns, feel the breeze rustling the trees, even hear his family's voice in such high detail.
The area they moved into was much nicer than the last place he lived, and extraordinarily bigger too, a size meant to fit the size of their family, their pack. He held a box with what he deemed his most precious belongings in his tiny hands, one of them being a stuffed animal that has long since lost its original color, one eye missing and only one floppy ear, the other ear was bitten off during a particularly rough play session.
He turned around, waiting for his Appa to come open the door for him, since the knob wouldn’t turn when he attempted to jiggle it.
And that’s when he saw him.
A little boy, about the size of him across the street. Older Donghyuck realizes now that he wasn’t much farther from their home, just a short jog across the street and to their yard, but little Donghyuck felt like he was on the other side of the world. There were trees surrounding the boy's house, almost blackening the area with the amount of shade it got, while Donghyuck stood on his porch, feeling the sun blaring down on him, heating up his tan skin.
The boy had blonde hair, almost white, and his skin was as pale as snow. He sat on the porch, surrounded by darkness and just watched them, eyes tracking their movements, but body never moving an inch.
Donghyuck was a rambunctious child at that age. Bright, happy, always eager to try everything; to talk, to make friends, to play. So when the corner of the boy's lips tilted up just slightly, and his hand raised a few inches in the air like he was prepared to wave, Donghyuck’s mouth erupted in a big, toothy grin.
As big as Donghyuck’s pack was, and as many pups there were in it, you would think Donghyuck wouldn’t need any more friends, but that was simply wrong. He loved making new friends, and he especially craved meeting kids outside of their pack. Sure, he could tackle his brothers and sisters into the dirt, roll around as they snip and growl at each other and tangle their tiny hands in each other's wild hair to tug, but the idea of making a new friend on the other side of the world (i.e. street, but his tiny self didn’t quite comprehend that), that was everything his young self could have wished for in that moment.
Just as his hand went above his head to wave, feet moments away from hopping and hand ready to move erratically with all his excitement, his Appa appeared and started to drag him away and into the house.
The boy was obstructed by the door now, and Donghyuck blinked rapidly in the direction like if he blinked fast enough, the view would become clear and he could see his potential friend again.
Then his Appa kneeled in front of him, rough hands cupping his cheeks and staring into his bright eyes that dimmed rapidly at the intense and burning hatred he saw in his Appa's eyes.
“We do not talk to them, Donghyuck. You hear me? Never speak to them, I forbid it.”
Donghyuck’s mouth was dry, his tongue felt like sandpaper sliding across his cheek. He was confused and sad and angry at his Appa for ruining his chances at making a friend, one so close yet so far away from his home. These are a lot of emotions to experience as a kid, especially all at once, and he puffed his cheeks in defiance.
“But, Appa–”
“Donghyuck.” His fathers low, throaty growl froze his limbs in place. He flinched away, trying to put distance between him and his Appa, but his Appa wouldn’t let him go. He’s heard his Appa angry before, but he hasn’t experienced it directed at him. Sure, he’s been scolded before, but not like this, not with that threatening growl accompanying his words.
“Y-You’re scaring me,” Donghyuck mumbled, lips wobbly and tiny hands grasping at the bottom of his shirt, wishing he could cover himself completely with the fabric so he doesn’t have to be subjected to the coldness in his Appa’s eyes.
His Appa loosened his grip after that, lips forming a smile, but it was too tight and thin for Donghyuck to relish any comfort from it.
“There’s no reason to fear me. What you should fear is that boy. Now repeat after me, I will not go near that boy or that family.”
Kids are curious individuals. They have endless questions running around in their tiny minds, so much of the world to still discover, so naturally Donghyuck had questions–but when his Appa gives an order, you follow it. He learned that at a young age, and saw first hand what would happen when pack members disobeyed his Appa, and Donghyuck didn’t want that.
Donghyuck wanted to ask why, what was so scary about that little boy across the street? There’s nothing scary about Donghyuck, he was as harmless as a fly, so what would possibly make that other child something to be feared?
Instead he nodded his head and said, “I will not go near that boy.”
His Appa smiled at him, a genuine bright one that had Donghyuck giving back his own toothy smile. That’s the smile he wants directed at him, he wants his parents to always smile at him like that, and if staying away from that boy will get him that, then that’s what he’ll do.
“Good boy,” his Appa ruffled his hair and then picked him up. Donghyuck let out a bright laugh as he spun around before being sat back down. His Appa’s eyes suddenly dilated as he looked at Donghyuck, like the hunter he is, he knelt down as if he was going to pounce. Donghyuck’s brain immediately registered that stance. Playtime! That kicked Donghyuck’s tiny feat into gear and he ran away, barking out a laugh as his Appa chased him. Soon enough, his brothers and sisters and other pack mates joined in, and they all started to chase each other around the house until his Eomma finally came in to stop the fun.
His Eomma gave them a scolding and urged them to go out to the car and continue unpacking, Donghyuck was panting hard, body trying to cool off as he went back outside. His eyes immediately went to the same spot as earlier, where he found that boy. He glanced at the house that felt like it was miles away from his own, the boy now long gone, and Donghyuck’s thoughts about the boy slowly drifted out of his head as he unpacked his things into his new life.
-
“I’m banning the name Jaemin from our vocabulary. If you speak his name, consider us no longer friends.” Donghyuck grumbled to himself as he sat down at their usual spot on a picnic table. He roughly sat his bag on the ground and struggled to unzip it, only for the zipper to get stuck and become an immovable object between Donghyuck and his lunch.
“Fuck.” He kicks his bag, his patience thrown out the window as frustration settles inside him.
“But you just said his name,” Chenle comments, slipping a long fry between his lips as he silently basks in the new entertainment in front of him, that is Donghyuck losing his shit. “How can you ban his name from our vocab when you literally just said it.”
“Who’s name are we banned from saying?” Jisung asks, coming out of the blue and sitting down beside Chenle.
“Jaemin’s.” Chenle slides his basket of fries towards Jisung when he notices Jisung trying to sneak one off his tray anyways.
Donghyuck groans so loud he’s convinced the table vibrates. “Banned.” Donghyuck sharply jabs a finger in Chenle’s direction, his sharp fingernail painted black and glinting threateningly, and then he points it at Jisung, who raises his hand in mock surrender.
“I didn’t even say Jaemin’s name.”
Chenle stabs a finger into Jisung’s side who then bends over in pain with a grunt. “Shut up dipshit, you just heard him, we can’t say Jaemin’s name.”
Donghyuck stands up abruptly, grabbing his things silently and turning around to leave.
“Where are you going?” Chenle yells after his retreating figure.
“To jump off a bridge, or get new friends. Whatever comes first.”
Donghyuck enjoys his peace for about five minutes as he finds a new bench unoccupied by the gremlins he calls friends, and manages to get his bag open to pull out his food. As it enters six minutes, that’s when his peace crumbles away.
“Chenle told me you’re mad at Jaemin again. And that you were going to jump off a bridge, but since I’m looking right at you I’m guessing you didn’t find one.”
Renjun sits down beside him. He carefully unpacks his lunch and starts nibbling on it, oblivious or uncaring about the mental suffering he is causing to his friend.
“Did he also tell you I banned that name like twenty minutes ago?” Donghyuck scoffs.
Mouth stuffed with food, Renjun places a hand over his mouth because he’s weird about other people watching him eat and hums. “Mhm.”
“Ah, I see.” Donghyuck stabs his fork into the juicy meat of his food. “So you just don’t care. Got it.”
“Why are you mad at Jaemin?”
“Can we stop saying his name?”
“Sure. Why are you mad at Nana?”
“That’s not much better, and what, are you on a nickname basis with him now? When they fuck did that happen?”
“All his close friends call him Nana,” Renjun shrugged.
That only irritates Donghyuck even more, eyebrows twitching above his eyes. “So you’re close to him?” He accuses.
Renjun snorts and rolls his sharp eyes at Donghyuck and his poutiness. “Don’t start that. You know we’re friends, we’re all friends with him.”
Donghyuck purses his lips. For weeks now he pretended to not see Jisung running up to Jaemin when the younger spots him on campus, or Chenle walking out of the gymnasium after practice, covered in sweat and glued to Jaemin’s equally, maybe even more, sweaty side. Donghyuck didn’t realize Renjun had gotten closer to the vampire too, hadn’t seen it with his own eyes so he falsely assumed Renjun was free from Jaemin’s clutches.
Turns out that was far from the truth.
“Great, he’s taking my friends now too.”
Renjun stops eating, snaps the lid back on his container and pushes it to the side. He turns to Donghyuck, giving him his full attention. “What’s this about?”
“Nothing.” Though the snappiness in Donghyuck’s voice probably gives away that it's everything but nothing. “It’s nothing, just stupid rivalry stuff, ok? Nothing to worry about.”
“But I’m going to worry about it,” Renjun says earnestly, placing a hand on Donghyuck’s arm, “Because it’s obviously upsetting you. Now spill while it’s still just us. Chenle may appear any second now and start eavesdropping on us.”
Donghyuck chuckles, lips curling in a genuine smile he hasn’t felt at all today. “How much do you know about vampires and werewolves?”
Renjun taps his chin, a thoughtful look in his eyes as he genuinely tries to think. “I know what you and Jaemin have told me. I also know some stuff from movies, but I don’t know if they’re even accurate. I’ve never seen Jaemin sparkle in the sunlight–well, he does kind of sparkle, but not the same way as Edward Cullen. Have you seen his damn eyes? I feel like I’m going to go blind just looking at the shiny sparkles in them. Goddamn vampire beauty.”
Donghyuck laughs at that, he understands Renjun’s struggle even though he probably shouldn’t. Jaemin has been his rival for years, but he can’t deny the fact he’s caught himself staring on a few occasions that he intends to bring to the grave. He’ll be buried with his deepest darkest secrets about a beautiful vampire boy, thoughts his family would disown him for even having. He always manages to snap himself out of it before he gets stuck in Jaemin’s endless dark orbs that shine like his mothers shiny rings.
“And you.” Renjun points at him, narrowing his intuitive eyes. “You don’t go bat shit crazy on a full moon.”
“Why would I go bat shit crazy? I feel like that’s a metaphor better suited to Jaemin.”
“Ok fine, you don’t go all alpha wolf and eat the whole village during a full moon. Is that better?”
Donghyuck purses his lips, a complaint on the tip of his tongue, but Renjun raises a finger to silence him.
“The point is, the way the media depicts you guys is far from the actual truth. You’re actually, kind of, cute during a full moon.”
Donghyuck gasps, a sound that makes Renjun’s face crumble with regret. “You think my wolf is cute during a full moon? Oh, Renjun,” Donghyuck gushes, the same wide and toothy grin on his face he’s had since he was a kid. He tries to pull Renjun into a hug, but as if he expected it, Renjun is already moving to sit on the other side of the picnic bench.
“Forget I said that. I’ll ask Yizhuo from my Statistics class to erase your memory tomorrow with her witchy magic.”
Donghyuck cackles. He doubts Yizhuo will do that without some form of payment, but Huang Renjun is well liked at their school and might already have an in for all Donghyuck knows, so he won’t take this threat lightly.
“Said what?” Donghyuck hums. He’ll use this new knowledge at a later date, for right now he’ll pack it away and tuck it into a corner of his mind. Huang Renjun finds him cute during a full moon? He can’t wait to use this as leverage in the future. “The media kind of got one thing right though. Vampire and werewolves do not get along. We never have and never will.”
Renjun tilts his head. He blinks once, slowly, and then twice more.
“I feel like Jaemin gets along with everyone though? He’s only had nice things to say whenever he brings you up.”
That causes Donghyuck to falter, just slightly. Has Jaemin spoken about him before? He shakes the thought out of his head, probably trying to get dirt on his enemy of course. Why else would his name slip from Jaemin’s mouth? That must be it. “Any kind of kindness he shows towards my kind is all a ruse. I know he hates my guts, he probably has a picture of me taped to his closet door that he uses for dart practice, probably put a big red X across my face too.”
Renjun looks at him blankly as silence surrounds them.
“He what?”
“You know! That’s what, like, enemies do. You dedicate your life to hating one another, that’s normal!”
“No.” Renjun shakes his head once, staring at Donghyuck with disbelief that morphs into concern. “That is not normal, what the fuck? Do you have a picture of Jaemin taped to your closet door?”
It’s Donghyuck’s turn to become speechless. He feels heat crawl up his neck and spread over his cheeks. His ears even burn.
“I-I well–that wasn’t, that was just a random example–”
“How the fuck did you get a picture of Jaemin?”
Donghyuck tears his eyes away from Renjun’s penetrating and judgmental gaze. “Yearbook.”
“Oh my god.”
“Stop judging me,” Donghyuck hisses. “You wouldn’t understand. Vampire and werewolf beef go back centuries ago, Renjun. Vampires don’t like creatures like me,” Donghyuck points at himself. “And werewolves don’t fuck with vampires either.”
“Ok, so ignoring the fact you have a picture of Jaemin taped to your door, which by the way is not normal in any context and makes it seem like you’re obsessed with him–”
Donghyuck growls, a deep and threatening sound that Renjun barely bats an eye at. “I’m not obsessed–”
Renjun holds up a finger to silence him once again and his growl gets cut short and turns into a whimper as he sits back in his seat and pouts.
“Why are you so pissed at him today? Is it because of this age old rivalry, because that’s pretty vague. Did he actually do anything to you?”
“What hasn’t he done?” Donghyuck sighs. He has a list of things Jaemin has done, done better than Donghyuck specifically, that he started making when he was nine. The very first thing is Jaemin beating Donghyuck in a school race back in elementary school. “It just feels like no matter what I do, he’s always there, doing it better than I could have ever hoped to. It’s annoying and frustrating and–” Donghyuck sinks his fang into his bottom lip.
He’s already dreading going home over the weekend, because his parents always ask about Jaemin. Not fondly either, not like Jaemin is an old friend of Donghyuck’s and they care enough about him to ask through Donghyuck how he’s been doing. There’s clear disgust on his parents' faces whenever Jaemin’s name even leaves their mouths. Whenever they ask “What has Jaemin been up to?” They actually want to know what Jaemin is doing that Donghyuck could–should–be outshining him in. I heard Jaemin’s a star athlete at your school. Donghyuck barely even made it on the team when he tried out.
And grades–god, test scores are a big one for his parents. Donghyuck shares a couple of classes with Jaemin, and no matter how hard he tries, Jaemin seems to be better at him in all the subjects they share.
“He has better grades, he’s better at sports, he’s taking all my friends now. I’m losing this battle, Renjun, and it doesn’t feel very good.” Donghyuck’s eyes grow misty as he stares at the chipped wooden table, scratching and peeling off bits of the paint with his sharp fingernail. “My parents are going to hate me.” He doesn’t mention that it feels like they already do sometimes.
“Hey.” Renjun frowns at his admission. “He’s not taking us from you. That will never happen.”
Donghyuck laughs, a little bitter and dry in his ears. “I sure hope the fuck not. Who else is going to listen to me plot ways to fuck Jaemin over if it isn’t you?”
Renjun rolls his eyes. “This rivalry is all in your head. I doubt Jaemin spends his entire existence hating your existence.”
“You don’t know that.”
“No, but only an insane person like you would dedicate your life to a stupid rivalry like this. That’s most definitely one-sided by the way.”
“Everyone who meets him questions Jaemin’s sanity every day, there’s nothing sane about that vampire. Now,” Donghyuck takes out a notebook and pen. He scribbles on the corner of the page to make sure the ink comes out, and then puts a one on the first line. “C’mon, help me come up with ideas. What can I do to finally get back at him?”
“Get back at who? Is this about Jaemin? I’m in,” Chenle eyes sparkle as he doesn’t take a single breath as the words just spew from his lips. He sits beside Donghyuck, Jisung trudging beside him and sitting on the other side. “Also great to see you didn’t actually jump off a bridge, I wasn’t sure if werewolves could swim.”
Donghyuck shoots him a harsh glare and smacks the back of his head. “Of course we can fucking swim. Why would you think we can’t?”
Chenle shrugs, eyes feigning innocence as he hides his wide grin behind his soda he puts to his lips. “I don’t know. When I think of you in the water I just think of a wet dog trying to doggy paddle. Is that how you swim by the way? Sounds cute.”
“I am literally never going to the beach with you. And if I do I can't promise I won’t try to drown you.”
“I think I could outswim your doggy paddling.”
Before Donghyuck can give into his wild instincts and pounce on Chenle, Jisung interrupts, thankfully for Chenle, saving him from getting chewed out–literally.
“We’re getting off topic.” Jisung watches as Donghyuck writes strangle him on the paper beside the one before hastily scribbling it out. “Are we plotting to kill Jaemin? That’s not really cool guys.”
“No, that one was for Chenle, but I changed my mind.” Donghyuck waves that idea away. “Me and Jaemin are rivals, so we’re coming up with ways–”
“By ‘we’ he just means him, I have nothing to do with this.” Renjun says calmly, hands crossed over his chest as he sits back and just observes. “Him and maybe Chenle because he looks like he’s about to burst out of his seat in excitement.”
“Shh, don’t interrupt. Look,” Donghyuck leans across the table and Chenle does the same, he’s glad to know he has at least one friend who’s excited about his plans. “Currently, Jaemin is in the lead by a lot of points.”
“All imaginary points,” Renjun mutters under his breath.
“So, I need a way to get in the lead and I need you two to help me.”
Chenle sits back. His wide smile resembles a mischievous cat who’s about to do something that’s wrong, and something it knows it shouldn’t do, but will anyway. Like those videos on youtube of cats staring their owners dead in the eyes as they knock over a vase on a high shelf.
“Oh, I love this. This is great, and I already have a way you can do just that.”
Donghyuck arches his eyebrow, impressed. “You do?”
Chenle nods his head, looking every bit pleased with himself.
“You should fight him.”
-
Donghyuck nervously paces back and forth in front of his door, stopping every few seconds to take out his phone from his dark hoodie pocket and stare at the time like maybe it’ll stop and he’ll be saved from what’s to come.
In hindsight, maybe Donghyuck was a bit too pumped up on adrenaline and accepted Chenle’s idea far too quickly. He should have really sat with it, let it simmer, and allowed himself time to think about it rationally. Or he could have listened to Renjun, who pointed out how terrible the idea was as soon as it left Chenle’s lips–but alas, Donghyuck combined his few brain cells with Chenle’s and came up with the worst idea he’s ever thought of.
“Ok, you can do this. You got this, Donghyuck.” Donghyuck mutters encouragement under his breath as he heads to their meeting spot. Maybe Jaemin won’t be there? Maybe he took one look at Donghyuck’s note and threw it away with a laugh.
Afterall, in what universe does Jaemin take his note seriously? Let alone actually show up to their meeting spot. Donghyuck laughs as he thinks about it, the stupidity of the entire situation and the fact he’s actually worried Jaemin will show his face.
He walks out of his apartment and heads in the direction of a nearby park.
Yeah, there’s no way Jaemin didn’t just crumble his note immediately and toss it in the trash. There’s no way he’s going to be standing there waiting for Donghyuck, dressed up in similar clothing as him. Dark hoodie, loose pants, clothes you can fight in because Donghyuck left a fucking note in Jaemin’s bag telling him to meet him here at 7pm so they can end this once and for all.
Oh god. His actions are finally starting to sink in.
He can’t believe he did that. He can’t believe he’s going to do this.
He challenged Jaemin to a fight. A fight he’s going to lose.
Fuck, he’s so dead.
Regret, fear, panic and every other human emotion that makes his gut swirl like he’s going to throw his lunch back up consumes him. Each movement of his legs feels slow and heavy, like he has cinderblocks tied to his feet instead of shoes.
He made probably what is the stupidest decision he has ever made in his life and he’s already regretting the soon to be consequences. He feels his phone beep in his hand, his fingers shaky as he unlocks it and opens the text message.
Chenle
Abort! Abort!
Abort the mission!
Donghyuck you’re fighting Jaemin at NIGHT
That’s when vampires are most powerful! I saw it in a movie!!!!
Donghyuck shuts his eyes as his feet slow to a stop. He presses his palm to his forehead and thinks of ways he can murder Chenle if he makes it out of this situation. Maybe if he offers Chenle on a silver platter to Jaemin, Jaemin will allow him to exchange a life for a life? But would Chenle’s blood even taste good? He highly doubts it.
He gets his feet moving again, although reluctantly, and ignores his beeping phone as Chenle continues blowing it up. He did receive a message from Renjun, asking Donghyuck what music he wanted at his funeral, if they find Donghyuck’s body. Donghyuck didn’t appreciate that comment. Jisung at least was useful and told Donghyuck to share his location with him so he can find him if Jaemin decides to kidnap him. He’s sure to be dead by the time the cops find him, but he appreciates Jisung’s effort nonetheless.
His heart feels like it’s about to beat straight out of his chest as he gets closer and closer to their meeting spot.
Fuck. Why did Donghyuck want to meet so late? The ugly yellow glow from the street lights look as if they are lighting the path to his end, a path he chose that only leads to damnation.
Donghyuck continues to beat like a drum in his chest.
Badump. Badump, Badump. Badump.
It’s like a beat to a song, and its noise drowns out every other sound around him until all Donghyuck can hear is that and the blood rushing from his heart. His hearing is perfect, always has been, but even if he could focus on a sound other than his body deciding whether it’s going into fight or flight mode, he wouldn’t be able to hear Jaemin at all.
Silent, always silent. Donghyuck can never hear his heart beating in his chest no matter how hard he listens for it. He can’t hear a single breath Jaemin takes, or blood running through his veins. Jaemin could easily ambush him as soon as he gets there. Hide behind a tree until he has Donghyuck right where he wants him and then pop out–
And that would be the end for Donghyuck.
As he rounds the corner and enters the park, he closes his eyes and takes in deep breaths. He doesn’t stop walking on the path, blood rushing in his ears as he gets closer and closer to their meeting spot.
Breath Donghyuck, breathe. He might not even be there, you might open your eyes and be faced with nothing but an empty park.
And then he hears it. His ears hone in on the sound, the quiet scrape of a shoe sliding across the brick path.
His breathing starts to get faster, almost erratic.
Fuck, fuck, fuck. He’s actually here. Fuck what is he going to do? He can’t fight Jaemin, he can’t fight anyone–
“Donghyuck?”
He stops breathing all together. In his panic, he didn’t really take a moment to think about how Jaemin would sound, but if he did, it wouldn’t be anything like the softness and hesitance he hears in Jaemin’s silky deep voice. He would have expected something more violent, loud, sharp enough to cut Donghyuck to pieces–but this isn’t anything like that.
Donghyuck opens his eyes. He blinks rapidly as his eyes adjust to the glare of the park light right above their heads, but when they finally settle on Jaemin, he thinks he’s dreaming.
Jaemin looks straight out of his dream in fact. He’s handsome, but that’s not surprising. Donghyuck very much expected to get his ass beat while a single hair didn’t go astray on Jaemin’s head, but this isn’t just normal handsome Jaemin.
This Jaemin, with his big, doe-like eyes, has his hair neatly styled. Much fancier than the messy style Donghyuck normally sees him with. His outfit is neat and stylish, no hoodie or jeans or even those fuck ass joggers he’s always prancing around in.
And the most confusing part is the flowers.
Flowers.
Jaemin is holding a bouquet of flowers.
Yellow sunflowers, pink orchids and roses, and even a purple flower he can’t name at the top of his head, but Renjun would probably know.
Worst of all, the part that has Donghyuck’s chest tightening as his heart squeezes inside him ready to burst, Jaemin is smiling at him. It’s a look he’s admittedly seen before, directed at him, but a look he turned his back to and pretended he didn’t see it.
Here though, it looks ten times brighter than it does in the shitty lighting inside their university halls.
“Hi.” Donghyuck’s surprised Jaemin’s smile fits on his face with how wide it is, his eyes crinkling as he extends his arms, the bouquet, in Donghyuck’s direction like he’s expecting Donghyuck to walk up and just take it. “You look beautiful.”
Donghyuck is wearing a hoodie he hasn’t washed in two weeks and sweat pants that probably are stained.
He feels like he’s going to cry.
“What is this?” Donghyuck asks after what feels like an eternity of silence and just staring and wondering what the fuck is going on.
Jaemin’s smile falters, just a little, and Donghyuck feels his heart start to drop with it. A part of him is scared, waiting for Jaemin to attack him like what was supposed to happen, but another part fears Jaemin losing that smile completely even more.
Jaemin glances at the flowers, then at Donghyuck. The corner of his lips quirk up. “I got you flowers–well I guess that's obvious…” Donghyuck thinks he’s blushing, or maybe it’s just the lighting making his cheeks look warmer and more colorful than they usually are. Vampires don’t have blood in their body so they can’t blush, but if they did, Donghyuck thinks this is what a blushing vampire would look like. “Sorry, I’m a little nervous. I haven't gone–this is my first time doing this. I see you’re not a flower kind of guy. Maybe I should have gone with chocolate or fruit instead.”
Donghyuck is still trying to grasp the situation he got himself in while Jaemin rambles on about the different kinds of chocolate boxes he can get, or different arrangements of fruit baskets he saw online he can order next time–while all Donghyuck can think is–
What. The. Fuck.
Donghyuck clears his throat, causing Jaemin to pause his words. “You haven't done this before?”
Jaemin’s mouth shuts promptly and his eyes grow wide as he takes in Donghyuck’s question.
“No, I haven't."
Donghyuck isn’t 100% sure what this even is anymore. Either Jaemin is admitting he’s never been in a fight before, and that would add up since he brought flowers to a fight, but Donghyuck’s gut is telling him that is far, far away from what Jaemin actually means.
Donghyuck takes one look at his hopeful and eager eyes and then tears his eyes away. He shakes his head in disbelief, fingers rubbing his temples as he processes the situation and when everything got so turned around.
This is all wrong, everything about this is wrong.
“This isn’t right.” Donghyuck closes his eyes, hopes Jaemin will have disappeared the next time he opens them, but of course he’s still there when Donghyuck’s eyes flutter open, looking more confused but still just as attractive as he’s always looked, holding flowers for him for Christ's sake.
“Is this not a date?”
Jaemin has the nerve to look sad, even sound heartbroken as his arms fall limply at his side, but his eyes still fucking sparkling like a hopeful kid who’s desperately clinging on to something–someone. Fuck.
“No, Jaemin.” Donghyuck lets out a puff of laughter, wet and ugly sounding as he tries to hold back his tears. And he is desperately trying to, eyelashes fluttering rapidly as he tries not to cry in front of the one person he should never show weakness to. The one person who’s looking at him softer than any person has in his entire life. “No. This isn’t a date. We were supposed to fight. I invited you here to fight me.”
Jaemin's eyes go wide as he looks taken aback, his lips open in a tiny “o” that shouldn’t be cute, but is, even though Donghyuck shouldn't be having this thought at all. There’s a lot of things Donghyuck shouldn’t be feeling or thinking that he has been since he found Jaemin standing in the middle of the park like some prince straight out of a fairytale. A vampire prince, sure, but in a way that makes him even more charming. If he thinks about it, Donghyuck should feel special that a vampire misinterpreted a fight for a date, dressed up, and even got him flowers. What vampire gets you flowers? None that Donghyuck ever heard about.
On the other hand, Donghyuck should feel angry and pissed that Jaemin thought he wanted to go on a date. Instead, Donghyuck feels none of that even though he’s been conditioned all his life to feel nothing but anger towards vampires.
But then Donghyuck feels excitement and anticipation surge through his body, going all the way to the very tips of his fingers. Heat creeps onto his face against his will. Donghyuck’s heard of butterflies erupting in people when their partner does something romantic, but Donghyuck feels like there’s a whole swarm of them flying around his chest and stabbing into his heart.
The worst part is he wants to drown in these feelings, because they actually feel nice. At this moment, he doesn’t hate Jaemin, right now Jaemin is endearing and Donghyuck is shocked that Jaemin even–why would Jaemin want to go on a date? This was really Jaemin’s first thought when he saw the note? That Donghyuck was–that Donghyuck wanted to–
He wants to go on a date with Donghyuck.
The realization rams into Donghyuck like a ton of bricks.
Against his will because fuck his emotions and the feelings of being wanted by someone you thought was out of reach for years, his eyes start to prick with unshed tears.
“You got me flowers?”
Jaemin unfreezes after hearing Donghyuck’s voice. He blinks like his mind is still reeling from Donghyuck’s confession only seconds ago.
“Yeah. I didn’t know this was supposed to be a fight though, I’m sure I look pretty stupid right now.” Jaemin’s head drops down, staring at his hand full of flowers and twirling the stems in his hand. He then glances at Donghyuck, eyes raking up and down his body like he’s connecting the dots and realizing Donghyuck’s clothes aren’t one someone typically wears on a date.
Donghyuck wets his dry lips. “Can I still have the flowers?”
Jaemin’s eyes jump back to his face. He observes Donghyuck with his sharp eyes. A look passes over them, and his once hard features start to soften. “You still want them?”
Donghyuck nods his head after a few brief seconds of hesitation. “Kind of,” he says softly, voice so quiet he’s worried the wind will carry his words away, but Jaemin still hears them.
Jaemin smiles, just the corner of his lips turning up in an expression Donghyuck always saw as cocky and arrogant, but now paired with his hopeful eyes, smile growing as he steps forward to hand Donghyuck the bouquet, he sees a charming boy who’s dripping with nothing but sweetness.
“Here,” Jaemin says quietly as he passes the flowers to him.
“Thank you.” Donghyuck stares at the big, beautiful bouquet in his hand with a look of unsureness, like they might not be real–but then the smell hits him, the sweet floral scent that not even his imagination could conjure up.
“So a fight, huh? Is this the part where you hit me?” Jaemin asks him. Since he didn’t take a step back from Donghyuck after handing him the flowers, the only barrier between him and Jaemin is the bouquet, that’s how close they are. The lilies press against Jaemin’s chest, and Donghyuck moves the bouquet closer to his body to not squish the flowers against Jaemin’s ridiculously muscular body.
“I guess so.” Donghyuck says, staring up at Jaemin and getting a first hand look at exactly how long his eyelashes are. He can really appreciate Jaemin’s scent this close too. He smells of fresh mint and berries and flowers. He smells good, while Donghyuck probably smells like he hasn’t cleaned his room in a week.
It hits him that Jaemin probably wanted to smell nice for their date, and that thought makes him feel all gooey on the inside.
“Ok.” Jaemin nods his head and then stares at him with unblinking eyes. For a moment, Donghyuck thinks he’s finally going to get what was coming to him, because Jaemin’s stare is something straight out of a horror movie, right before the serial killer claims his victim, but Jaemin simply tilts his head and just waits.
Donghyuck swallows his nerves down. “What?”
“What do you mean, what? You’re the one who wanted to fight me.”
“Yeah…” Donghyuck's voice comes out slow and full of uncertainty. “I don’t–you’re just standing there though.”
Jaemin smiles, “I’m waiting for you to hit me.”
A long and stretched out pause.
“I don’t think you understand how a fight works.”
Jaemin chuckles. He stuffs his hand in his pocket, his watch glinting in the moonlight as he stares at Donghyuck with a mix of softness and amusement in his eyes.
“I assure you, I know how a fight works.”
“You’re supposed to hit me too.”
“I know, but I’m not going to.”
“So you want me to hit you while you do… nothing?”
Jaemin nods, “Pretty much.”
Another pause, but this one's shorter.
“Are you trying to catch me off guard so I’ll lower my defenses, and then you go in for the kill at the end?”
Jaemin laughs, a loud and booming one that probably would get them weird looks if anyone else were around. “I’m not hurting you.”
“Why not?”
Jaemin shrugs. “I don’t want to.”
Donghyuck digs his teeth into his lip, gnawing on the skin with his fang. This isn’t at all how Donghyuck pictured this going.
“I feel kind of dumb,” Jaemin admits, voice small. “You challenged me to a fight and I showed up with flowers.”
“Yeah,” Donghyuck agrees, and Jaemin’s eyes narrow onto his, “But, to be honest, I like your version of a fight more.”
Jaemin’s eyes widen slightly, before going back to normal, a shiny sparkle glinting in his beautiful eyes. “Yeah?”
Donghyuck drops the hand with the bouquet until it’s hanging at his side, and he raises his other one, fingers curling into a fist. “I’m going to hit you now.”
“Ok,” Jaemin says, a normal response as if Donghyuck just said he was going to fix his tie.
Donghyuck tightens his fingers and slowly, gently, presses it into Jaemin’s shoulder. Jaemin releases a breath of air he was holding and then opens one eye to look down at Donghyuck’s fist.
“There,” Donghyuck says weakly. “I did it.”
Jaemin glances between his fist and Donghyuck’s face. “Ow?”
Donghyuck laughs, a single tear slips from his eye and down his cheek. “I’m a fucking idiot.”
“That makes two of us.”
“No,” Donghyuck shakes his head, “You don’t understand. My whole life, you were my enemy. Imagine how I feel seeing my enemy show up with fucking flowers, Jaemin. I feel like everything I’ve ever known in life has been a damn lie.”
Donghyuck’s tears blur his vision. Through his tears, he sees Jaemin’s feet step closer, and then a hand wrapping around his wrist.
“What do you mean?” Jaemin asks.
“My parents,” Donghyuck grits out. His fang pierces his skin, and a small drop of blood leaks into his mouth and over his taste buds. “They hate you. They told me I had to hate you. Yet you’re here acting sweet and nice to me, you’re running the image they painted in my head about vampires and you.”
“It’s not an act though,” Jaemin says gently. His thumb rubs circles onto the skin on Donghyuck’s wrist. “I always want to be sweet and nice to you. I have since the first day we met.”
Donghyuck blinks away the tears so he can clearly see Jaemin’s earnest features.
“The first day of school?”
“No, the day you moved across the street from me. I've wanted to get close to you since then.”
“We never even interacted,” Donghyuck says, voice fragile. His parents never allowed him to go across the street to play with Jaemin, the only thing they did was catch each other's eyes from time to time, but they never spoke to each other.
“I know, but still. My parents didn’t want me talking to you either, but good thing they’re not here right now.”
Donghyuck shuts his eyes and takes a deep breath. “Jaemin.”
“Just hear me out, yeah?” Jaemin steps closer. Donghyuck feels a puff of air hit his cheek as Jaemin sighs deeply. “How do you feel about me? I’m not asking what your parents want you to feel, but what does your heart say?”
Donghyuck feels Jaemin’s fingertips crawl up his abdomen and to his chest, hand stopping at where Donghyuck’s heart beats erratically in his chest and pressing his palm against it.
“What does Donghyuck think of me?” Jaemin inquires. Donghyuck can feel his intense stare on his face, searching for an answer.
Donghyuck on the other hand squeezes his eyes shut even more. Jaemin’s isn’t warm, his palm feels like ice shards pressing into his skin, but Donghyuck still feels warmth enveloping him despite Jaemin’s chilly temperature.
Jaemin makes him feel warm.
Donghyuck opens his eyes after what felt like minutes, but was merely seconds of silence. Jaemin’s eyes are big, and wide and wet and shining like the stars above them.
“I-I don’t know.”
Donghyuck expects disappointment to fall on Jaemin’s face, but instead, the vampire smiles. Donghyuck sees his fangs glinting in the light, and that’s one thing Donghyuck realizes they have in common. They’re both monsters with sharp teeth and an instantaneous appetite, but all they seem to want right now is each other.
“I can work with that.”
Donghyuck’s wolf becomes restless when Jaemin steps away from him, clawing at his insides and urging Donghyuck to close the distance between them. This is the first, his wolf has always felt the same bitterness when it came to Jaemin as Donghyuck has.
But this is new and different and Donghyuck doesn’t hate it.
Jaemin offers him his hand. “Is a date still on the table?”
Donghyuck closes his eyes and chuckles. When he opens them again, Jaemin is smiling brightly at him.
“A date was never on the table.”
“Well, can I put a date on the table? I guess we could still fight, but I have no intention of laying my hands on you and you punch like a newborn kitten, so it might be a long fight.”
“I should be insulted you compared a big bad wolf to a kitten.”
“But you’re just as cute as one. You remind me of my kitties at home.”
“You have cats?”
“Not here, but at my family home, yeah.”
The mention of Jaemin’s family only reminds Donghyuck of his own. His smile falters and instead of taking Jaemin’s hand, he presses it against his own chest.
“My family can never know about this.”
Jaemin smiles crookedly. “Neither can mine, but it can be our little secret.” Jaemin wiggles his fingers along with his eyebrows. “C’mon, I know you want to.”
Donghyuck erupts into a fit of giggles as he takes Jaemin’s hand and begs him to stop wiggling his eyebrows.
“You can be a big, bad wolf,” Jaemin whispers into his ear as he pulls him closer by the hand, “And go on a date with me, just for one night. Your parents don’t have to know.”
“Do you think this will be the only night we do this?” Donghyuck asks, glancing at his hand now intertwined with Jaemin’s.
Jaemin’s smile turns soft and small, “Do you want my honest answer, or a lie?”
“Honesty please.”
“Then no, I hope it’s not.”
Donghyuck looks away, biting at his cheek to stop the smile trying to burst onto his face.
“I hope not too."